Composite device, information processor, linking method, and linking program

Abstract

A composite device includes: a first device that is connected to a network; and a second device that is connected to the network, wherein the first device includes a hardware processor that: acquires device information from a linking candidate device connected to the network; determines whether the linking candidate device from which the device information is acquired is the second device included in the composite device based on the acquired device information; and in a case where the linking candidate device is determined to be the second device, sets to link with the linking candidate device which is determined as the second device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composite device, comprising:
 a first device that is connected to a network; and   a second device that is connected to the network,   wherein the first device includes
 a hardware processor that: 
 acquires device information from a linking candidate device connected to the network; 
 determines whether the linking candidate device from which the device information is acquired is the second device included in the composite device based on the acquired device information; and 
 in a case where the linking candidate device is determined to be the second device, sets to link with the linking candidate device which is determined as the second device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hardware processor searches a device connected to the network, and   in a case where a single linking candidate device is detected by the hardware processor and the device information acquired from the detected linking candidate device indicates that no device is linked, the hardware processor determines the linking candidate device to be the second device.   
     
     
         3 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hardware processor searches a device connected to the network, and   in a case where a plurality of linking candidate devices are detected by the hardware processor, any of the plurality of detected linking candidate devices is linked with the first device, and there is a single linking candidate device which is not linked with any other devices among the plurality of detected linking candidate devices, the hardware processor determines the single linking candidate device which is not linked with any other devices to be the second device.   
     
     
         4 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hardware processor sets device identification information for identifying the first device in the second device as the device information.   
     
     
         5 . The composite device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the device identification information is information different from a network address.   
     
     
         6 . The composite device according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein, in a case where the device identification information for identifying the first device is set in a device connected to the network, the hardware processor determines the device connected to the network to be the second device.   
     
     
         7 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the hardware processor sets a network address of the first device in the second device, and sets a network address of the second device.   
     
     
         8 . The composite device according to  claim 7 ,
 wherein, in a case where the first device restarts after being linked with the second device, the hardware processor causes the first device to set a network address newly assigned to the first device in the second device.   
     
     
         9 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first device further includes a storage, and   the hardware processor sets location information, which indicates a location in the network of predetermined data stored in a predetermined storage area of the storage or the storage, in the second device.   
     
     
         10 . The composite device according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein, in a case where the first device restarts after being linked with the second device, the hardware processor sets the location information in the second device using a network address of the second device set by linking with the second device.   
     
     
         11 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second device further includes the hardware processor that, in a case where the second device restarts after being linked with the first device, notifies the first device of starting using a network address of the first device set by linking with the first device, and   the hardware processor updates a network address of the second device set by linking with the second device with a network address newly assigned to the second device in response to receiving the notification.   
     
     
         12 . The composite device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the device information is a value set in a predetermined area of a MIB (Management Information Base).   
     
     
         13 . An information processor, comprising:
 a hardware processor that:   acquires linking setting information from a linking candidate device connected to a network;   in a case where the acquired linking setting information indicates that no device is linked, determines that the linking candidate device to be a linking target device; and   sets for linking with the linking target device.   
     
     
         14 . The information processor according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the hardware processor searches the linking candidate device, and   in a case where the linking candidate device detected by the hardware processor is one and the linking setting information acquired from the detected linking candidate device indicates that no device is linked, the hardware processor determines the linking candidate device to be the linking target device.   
     
     
         15 . The information processor according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the hardware processor searches the linking candidate device, and   in a case where the linking candidate device detected by the hardware processor is plural, and any of the plurality of detected linking candidate devices is not linked with the own device, the hardware processor determines a single device, which is not linked with any other devices among the plurality of detected linking candidate devices, as the linking target device.   
     
     
         16 . A linking method that is executed by a composite device which includes a second device and a first device, each of which is connected to a network,
 wherein the first device is caused to execute:   acquiring device information from a device connected to the network;   determining whether a linking candidate device from which the device information is acquired is the second device included in the composite device based on the acquired device information; and   setting for linking with the second device in a case where the device connected to the network is determined to be the second device.   
     
     
         17 . A linking method that causes an information processor to execute:
 acquiring linking setting information from a linking candidate device connected to a network;   determining, in a case where the acquired linking setting information indicates linking with any other device, the linking candidate device to be a linking target device; and   setting for linking with the linking target device.   
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable linking program that is executed by a composite device which includes a second device and a first device, each of which is connected to a network,
 wherein a computer that controls the first device is caused to execute:   acquiring device information from a device connected to the network;   determining whether a linking candidate device from which the device information is acquired is the second device included in the composite device based on the acquired device information; and   setting for linking with the second device in a case where the device connected to the network is determined to be the second device.   
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory recording medium storing a computer readable linking program that causes a computer which controls an information processor to execute:
 acquiring linking setting information from a linking candidate device connected to a network;   determining, in a case where the acquired linking setting information indicates linking with any other device, the linking candidate device to be a linking target device; and   setting for linking with the linking target device.